FORENSIC SCIENTIST II (BLOOD/ALCOHOL)

Arizona Department of Administration • Lake Havasu City, AZ

8d • $79,532 • Onsite

About The Position

The Arizona Department of Public Safety is seeking experienced and motivated individuals to join our Western Regional Crime Laboratory team as a Forensic Scientist II specializing in the Blood Alcohol discipline. This role utilizes chemical, microscopic, chromatographic, and comparative techniques and instrumentation to examine, identify and evaluate physical evidence. This may include controlled dangerous substances; blood, urine, and other biological specimens; firearms; questioned documents; latent prints; trace evidence; and other items of evidentiary value. The position involves preparing technical reports, providing expert testimony in court, offering technical advice and guidance, and training other forensic scientists. It also includes recommending revisions to analytical methodology and the purchase of scientific equipment. The Forensic Scientist II serves as an experienced casework analyst working complex cases within the discipline and performs related tasks as required. Supervision is received from a Supervising Forensic Scientist. This recruitment will be used to establish an 18-month eligibility list to fill current and future vacancies at our Western Regional Crime Laboratory in the Lake Havasu City area.

Requirements

• Four (4) years of experience as a forensic scientist in a recognized crime laboratory.
• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in biology, chemistry, or closely related physical or natural sciences.
• Minimum of thirty (30) semester hours in chemistry, or a minimum of twenty (20) semester hours of chemistry with completed coursework in molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry.
• Demonstrated competency in at least one forensic discipline.
• Must successfully complete the examination process.
• Must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Nice To Haves

• Additional forensic scientist experience beyond the required four (4) years may substitute for semester hours of chemistry (one (1) year additional forensic scientist experience equals ten (10) chemistry semester hours).
• Progression to the next classification in the Forensic Scientist series requires an overall performance rating of at least "Standard" in the last 12 months.
• A polygraph and background investigation are required for successful applicants.
• DPS supports a drug-free work environment through pre-employment drug testing.
• If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

Responsibilities

• Utilizes chemical, microscopic, chromatographic, and comparative techniques and instrumentation to examine, identify and evaluate physical evidence.
• Prepares technical reports.
• Provides expert testimony in court.
• Provides technical advice and guidance to and trains other forensic scientists.
• Recommends revisions to analytical methodology and purchase of scientific equipment.
• Serves as an experienced casework analyst working complex cases within the discipline.
• Performs related tasks as required.

Benefits

• Accrued vacation pay and sick days
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Deferred compensation plan
• Top-ranked retirement plans
• Affordable medical, dental, vision, life, and short & long-term disability insurance plans
• Employee Assistance, Peer and Family Support Programs
• Bus Cards (Subsidized partially by the State)
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level